State comparison · 2025
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers salary: California vs Kentucky
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in California earn a median of $128,740. In Kentucky, $79,100. After cost-of-living, the gap is 32.6% — not 62.8%.
Nominal pay gap
+62.8%
California vs Kentucky
COL-adjusted gap
+32.6%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
- Median
- $128,740
- p25
- $93,530
- p75
- $165,530
- p10
- $65,890
- p90
- $201,070
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -33%
Kentucky
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
- Median
- $79,100
- p25
- $62,310
- p75
- $102,240
- p10
- $44,290
- p90
- $128,340
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 90.2
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -37%
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.